In an absolutely flawless performance, UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva notched his ninth title defence and fourteenth consecutive UFC victory on Sunday afternoon when he destroyed top contender and the last man to beat him, Yushin Okami.
Fighting in front of his home crowd for the first time since 2003, the Brazilian made it look ridiculously easy as he disposed of Okami inside two rounds.
After dominating the first round with ease, Silva elevated his game to an absurd degree in the second.
Keeping his hands at his waist, Silva allowed Okami a free shot at his face. Okami obliged only for the champion to move his head ever so slightly out of the way and then counter with a jab that sent the Japanese fighter to the canvas.
Silva let his prey back up only to floor him seconds later with a pinpoint hook and then finish the job with some well placed ground and pound.
At the post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White stated that the early reports on the television ratings in Brazil is that the event did a twenty percent share in the country; which could very well mean that close to 30-million homes watched Silva’s sublime performance.
Hopefully that is the case as Silva deserves the recognition for being the legendary fighter that he is.
The only question left after the performance is whose next? Okami was really the last contender left in a division that Silva has wiped out.
A rematch with divisional loudmouth Chael Sonnen still holds interest, but outside of that there aren’t really any viable challengers on the horizon.
Perhaps the Georges St. Pierre superfight could become a reality?
In the co-main event slot, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua made a successful return and avenged his 2007 loss to Forrest Griffin as he blitzed the Ultimate Fighter winner in just one minute and fifty-three seconds.
It was exactly what the former champion needed and definitely helps soften the fallout from his destruction at the hands of Jon Jones earlier this year.
In what was amazingly his first fight on home soil in a 40-fight career, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira notched a brutal knockout over surging contender, Brendon Schaub.
There were a few dicey moments as Schaub landed some hard shots but Nogueira’s superior striking came to the fore as he landed a vicious combo against the cage that left Schaub falling face first to the canvas.
The win earned Nogueira a $100,000 ‘Knockout of the Night’ bonus.
The undefeated Edson Barboza, and The Ultimate Fighter season 9 winner Ross Pearson picked up the ‘Fight of the Night’ award with their three round striking battle.
While the split decision probably shouldn’t be considered home-cooking by any stretch, Barboza will probably count himself lucky when he watches back the tape.
In the opening bout of the pay-per-view, Luis Cane found himself the lone Brazilian on the card to go without victory.
Cane looked well on his way to victory in the fight as he punished his opponent, Stanislav Nedkov. Over-confidence was Cane’s downfall though as Nedkov capitalised on Cane’s increasingly wild striking and landed a bomb of his own.
The blow put Cane on Queer Street and some follow up punches put the Brazilian down and out.
UFC 134 Full Results
Anderson Silva defs. Yushin Okami via TKO (punches) at 2:04 of round 2.
Mauricio Rua defs. Forrest Griffin via KO (punches) at 1:53 of round 1.
Edson Barboza defs. Ross Pearson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira defs. Brendan Schaub via KO (punches) at 3:09 of round 1.
Stanislav Nedkov defs. Luis Cane via TKO (punches) at 4:20 of round 1.
Undercard
Thiago Tavares defs. Spencer Fisher via TKO (punches) at 2:51 of round 2.
Rousimar Palhares defs. Dan Miller via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 30-25).
Paulo Thiago defs. David Mitchell via unanimous decision (30-27 x3).
Raphael Assuncao defs. Johnny Eduardo via unanimous decision (30-27 x3).
Erick Silva defs. Luis Ramos via TKO (punches) at :40 of round 1.
Yuri Alcantara defs. Felipe Arantes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
Yves Jabouin defs. Ian Loveland via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28).
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